Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Theodor Braun (Translator), 6.67

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Am Tage daraus machten sich die Athener zur Schlacht
bereit und ordneten dazu ihr Heer in folgender Weise. Den
rechten Flügel bildeten die Argeier und die Mantineer, die
Mitte die Athener, den anderen die übrigen Bundesgenossen.
Die eine Hälfte ihres Heeres stand, acht Mann hoch, im
ersten Treffen, die andere, ebenfalls acht Mann hoch, im
Viereck bei den Zelten, mit dem Befehl, aufzupassen, wo etwa
ein Heeresteil in Not käme, und dann zu dessen Unterstützung
vorzugehen. Die Packknechte hatte man inmitten dieses Vier
ecks untergebracht. Die Syrakuser stellten ihr aus dem ge
samten syrakusischen Aufgebot und den anwesenden Bundes
genossen bestehendes schweres Fußvolk sechzehn Mann hoch.
Die Bundesgenossen, die zu ihnen gestoßen, waren in der
Hauptsache Selinunter; dazu kamen Reiter aus Gela, im
ganzen gegen zweihundert, und etwa zwanzig Reiter und
gegen fünfzig Bogenschützen aus Kamarina. Ihre mindestens
zwölfhundert Mann starke Reiterei stellten sie auf den rechten
Flügel und neben diese die Speerschützen. Als die Athener
sich anschickten, zuerst anzugreifen, schritt Nikias die Reihen
ab, um den Mut seines Heeres und der einzelnen Völker
schaften durch folgende Ansprache zu beleben.

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. Theodor Braun (Translator). Leipzig. 1917.

Current edition First1KGreek

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs (German) (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.)

Editions (1)

Ἱστορίαι Perseus (Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).) — 6.67.1 focus

[1] τῇ δ’ ὑστεραίᾳ οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι καὶ οἱ ξύμμαχοι παρεσκευάζοντο ὡς ἐς μάχην, καὶ ξυνετάξαντο ὧδε. δεξιὸν μὲν κέρας Ἀργεῖοι εἶχον καὶ Μαντινῆς, Ἀθηναῖοι δὲ τὸ μέσον, τὸ δὲ ἄλλο οἱ ξύμμαχοι οἱ ἄλλοι. καὶ τὸ μὲν ἥμισυ αὐτοῖς τοῦ στρατεύματος ἐν τῷ πρόσθεν ἦν τεταγμένον ἐπὶ ὀκτώ, τὸ δὲ ἥμισυ ἐπὶ ταῖς εὐναῖς ἐν πλαισίῳ, ἐπὶ ὀκτὼ καὶ τοῦτο τεταγμένον· οἷς εἴρητο, ᾗ ἂν τοῦ στρατεύματός τι πονῇ μάλιστα, ἐφορῶντας παραγίγνεσθαι. καὶ τοὺς σκευοφόρους ἐντὸς τούτων τῶν ἐπιτάκτων ἐποιήσαντο.

[2] οἱ δὲ Συρακόσιοι ἔταξαν τοὺς μὲν ὁπλίτας πάντας ἐφ’ ἑκκαίδεκα, ὄντας πανδημεὶ Συρακοσίους καὶ ὅσοι ξύμμαχοι παρῆσαν (ἐβοήθησαν δὲ αὐτοῖς Σελινούντιοι μὲν μάλιστα, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ Γελῴων ἱππῆς, τὸ ξύμπαν ἐς διακοσίους, καὶ Καμαριναίων ἱππῆς ὅσον εἴκοσι καὶ τοξόται ὡς πεντήκοντα), τοὺς δὲ ἱππέας ἐπετάξαντο ἐπὶ τῷ δεξιῷ, οὐκ ἔλασσον ὄντας ἢ διακοσίους καὶ χιλίους, παρὰ δ’ αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς ἀκοντιστάς.

[3] μέλλουσι δὲ τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις προτέροις ἐπιχειρήσειν ὁ Νικίας κατά τε ἔθνη ἐπιπαριὼν ἕκαστα καὶ ξύμπασι τοιάδε παρεκελεύετο.

Translations (9)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 6.67.1 focus

[1] The next day the Athenians and their confederates prepared to fight, and were ordered thus: The Argives and the Mantineans had the right wing, the Athenians were in the middle, and the rest of their confederates in the other wing. That half of the army which stood foremost was ordered by eight in file; the other half towards their tents, ordered likewise by eights, was cast into the form of a long square and commanded to observe diligently where the rest of the army was in distress and to make specially thither. And in the midst of these so arranged were received such as carried the weapons and tools of the army.

[2] The Syracusians arranged their men of arms, who were Syracusians of all conditions and as many of their confederates as were present, by sixteen in file (they that came to aid them, were chiefly the Selinuntians, and then the horsemen of the Geloans, about two hundred, and of the Camarinaeans, about twenty horsemen and fifty archers); the cavalry they placed in the right point of the battle, being in all no less than a thousand two hundred, and with them the darters.

[3] But the Athenians intending to begin the battle, Nicias went up and down the army, from one nation to another, to whom and to all in general he spake to this effect:

History of the Peloponnesian War Perseus (Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Crawley, Richard, translator. London and Toronto: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd.; New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1914.) — 6.67.1 focus

[1] The next day the Athenians and their allies prepared for battle, their dispositions being as follows:—Their right wing was occupied by the Argives and Mantineans, the centre by the Athenians, and the rest of the field by the other allies. Half their army was drawn up eight deep in advance, half close to their tents in a hollow square, formed also eight deep, which had orders to look out and be ready to go to the support of the troops hardest pressed. The camp followers were placed inside this reserve.

[2] The Syracusans, meanwhile, formed their heavy infantry sixteen deep, consisting of the mass-levy of their own people, and such allies as had joined them, the strongest contingent being that of the Selinuntines; next to them the cavalry of the Geloans, numbering two hundred in all, with about twenty horse and fifty archers from Camarina. The cavalry was posted on their right, full twelve hundred strong, and next to it the darters.

[3] As the Athenians were about to begin the attack, Nicias went along the lines, and addressed these words of encouragement to the army and the nations composing it:—

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 6.67 focus

Am folgenden Tag rüsteten sich die Athener und ihre
Bundesgenossen zur Schlacht und stellten sich in folgender Weise auf.
Den rechten Flügel hatten die Argiver nnd Mantineer, die Athener
die Mitte, den andern Flügel die übrigen Bundesgenossen, Die eine
Hälfte des Heeres war etwas vorgeshcoben, acht Mann hoch
ausgestellt, die andere Hälfte blieb beim Schiffslager in einem Viereck,
ebenfalls acht Mann hoch aufgestellt. Diesen war befohlen, sie
sollten Acht haben und zu Hülse eilen, wo sie etwa einen Theil des
Heeres in besonderer Bedrängniß sähen. Den Troß mit dem Gepäck
stellten sie in die Mitte des Hinteren Vierecks. Die Syrakusaner
aber stellten ihre Schwerbewaffneten sechzehn Mann hoch auf; eS war
dieß die gesammte streitbare Mannschaft der Stadt mit den
erschienenen Bundesgenossen — es waren ihnen nämlich zu Hülfe
gekommen vor Allen die Selinuntier mit der größten Anzahl, dann auch
Reiter der Gelaner, im Ganzen gegen zweihundert, und von den
Kamarinäern einige zwanzig Reiter und gegen fünfzig Bogenschützen.
Die Reiter stellten sie an den rechten Flügel, zusammen nicht weniger
als Tausend zweihundert, und neben sie auch die Speerschützen.
Weil nun die Athener zuerst angreifen wollten, so durchschritt NiklaS
die Reihen, und nach Volksstämmen und insgesammt ermuthigte er
sie mit diesen Worten:

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 6.67 focus

LXVII. Le lendemain, les Athéniens et leurs alliés se disposèrent au combat. Voici leur ordre de bataille : A l’aile droite étaient les Argiens et les Mantinéens; les Athéniens au centre; à l’autre aile, le reste des alliés. La moitié de l'armée était en avant du camp, rangée sur huit hommes de hauteur; l’autre moitié était près des tentes, formée en carré long, également sur huit de hauteur¹. Elle avait ordre d’observer quelle partie du corps de bataille souffrirait le plus, pour se porter ²³⁴⁵ au secours. Les porteurs de bagage furent placés au centre de ce corps de réserve. Les Syracusains rangèrent sur seize de hauteur leurs hoplites formés de la population syracusaine en masse et de tous les alliés présents. Ces auxiliaires étaient particulièrement des troupes de Sélinonte, ensuite des cavaliers de Géla, au nombre de deux cents en tout, vingt cavaliers de Camarina et cinquante archers. Les cavaliers n’étaient pas moins de douze cents; ils prirent la droite, et à côté d’eux les frondeurs. Au moment où les Athéniens allaient engager l’action, Nicias passa de rang en rang, au milieu des corps de chaque nation⁶ et leur adressa à tous ensemble ces exhortations :

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 6.67 focus

Le lendemain, les Athéniens et leurs alliés se déployèrent dans l’ofdre suivant : à l'aile droite les Argiens et les Mantinéens, au centre les Athéniens, à gauche le reste des alliés. La moitié de l’armée fut rangée en avant, sur huit de hauteur; l’autre moitié près des tentes, en carré sur huit également. Celle-ci devait rester en observation et se porter là où besoin serait. Les valets furent placés au milieu de ce cotps de réserve. Les Syracusains formèrent leurs hoplites sur seize de hauteur. C’était leur levée en masse, jointe à quelques auxiliaires, tirés principalement de Sélinonte. G-éla leur avait envoyé deux cents cavaliers ; Camarine une vingtaine de-cavaliers et cinquante archers. A l’aile droite ils placèrent leur cavalerie, forte d’au moins douze cents hommes et soutenue par leurs gens de trait. Au moment d’engager le combat, Nicias parcourut les différents corps de son armée, et les harangua tous ensemble en ces termes :

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides, Vol. 1-4. Smith, Charles Foster, translator. London and Cambridge, MA: Heinemann and Harvard University Press, 1919-1923.) — 6.67.1 focus

[1] On the next day the Athenians and their allies made preparations for battle, and were drawn up in the following order: On the right were the Argives and Mantineans, the Athenians had the centre, the other allies the rest of the line. Half of their army was in the van, arrayed eight deep; the other half near their sleeping-places, formed in a hollow square, these too arrayed eight deep; and the orders of the latter were, to be on the alert to support any part of the army that was most in distress. And the baggage-carriers they put inside the body of reserves. The Syracusans;

[2] on the other hand, arranged all their hoplites sixteen deep, that is, the whole force of the Syracusans and as many of their allies as were present; for they had received some reinforcements, chiefly from the Selinuntians, but next to them some cavalry from the Geloans, about two hundred in all, and also from the Camarinaeans about twenty horsemen and fifty bowmen. Their cavalry, which was not less than twelve hundred in number, they placed on the right, and on its flank the javelin-men.

[3] As the Athenians were on the point of beginning the attack, Nicias went along the line and exhorted them, nation by nation as well as all together, in the following manner:

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.) — 6.67.1 focus

[1] The next day the Athenians and their allies prepared for battle, and made their dispositions as follows. The right wing was held by the Argives and Mantineans, the centre by the Athenians, and the remainder of the line by the rest of the allies. Half of their force was posted in advance, drawn up eight deep; the other half, close upon their tents, in a hollow square, which was also formed eight deep, with orders to look out where any part of the army might be most distressed, and go to its support. Within this body of reserve, too, they placed the camp-followers.

[2] The Syracusans, on the other hand, drew up their heavy infantry sixteen deep, consisting of the Syracusans in full force, and as many allies as had joined them: (they were reinforced most extensively by the Selinuntines; next to them, by the Geloan cavalry, to the number of two hundred in all; and by about twenty horse, and fifty archers, from Camarina.) Their cavalry they posted on their right flank, amounting to not less than twelve hundred, and by their side the dartmen also.

[3] The Athenians being about to commence the attack, Nicias advanced along the line, and addressed the following exhortation to them, both in their several nations, and collectively:

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 6.67.1 focus

[1] Insequenti vero die Athenienses eorumque socii ut ad proelium se praeparabant, et aciem hoc modo instruxerunt. Dextrum quidem cornu tenebant Argivi et Mantinei, Athenienses vero medium agmen, alterum vero cornu ceteri socii. Et dimidium quidem eorum exercitus sic erat instructum , ut altitudo octonorum militum esset; dimidium vero acie oblonga ad tentoria et ipsum octonis militibus erat instructum; quibus praeceptum erat, ut qua maxime parte exercitus laboraret, observantes se conferrent. Atque intra lios, qui in subsidiis collocati erant, impedimenta posuerunt.

[2] Syracusani vero gravis armatura milites in altitudinem sedecim virorum instruxerunt, qui erant omnis Syracusanorum populus et socii, quotquot aderant (auxilio autem iis venerant in primis quidem Selinuntii, mox vero et Geloi equites, universi ad ducentos, et Camarimeorum equites ad viginti et sagittarii circiter quinquaginta), equites autem in dextro cornu collocarunt, non minus mille et ducentos; juxta eos autem et jaculatores.

[3] Quum autem Athenienses proelium priores inituri essent, Nicias suos et per singulas gentes, ut quamque adibat, et universos hu» jusmodi verbis adhortabatur :

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 6.67 focus

Il giorno appresso gli Ateniesi con gli alleati preparavansi alla battaglia, e ordinarono le schiere in questo modo. Tenevano l’ala destra gli Argivi ed i Mantineesi, il centro gli Ateniesi, e l’altr’ala il resto degli alleati. La metà dell’esercito posta in avanti era schierata con otto di fronte, e l'altra metà presso le tende schierata anch’essa con otto di fronte formava un rettangolo, ed avea ordine di osservare attentamente dove che Pesercito patisse per accorrervi ; e in mezzo a queste genti di riserva collocarono i saccomanni. I Siracusani poi schierarono con sedici sulla fronte le milizie gravi composte di tutte le classi del popolo di Siracusa e degli alleati che v’eran presenti. Tra questi vennero principalmente in loro aiuto i Seliuunti, poi anche i cavalli de'Geloi, in tutti dugento, e venti soli de’Camarinesi, e circa cinquanta arcieri. Posero sull’ala destra i cavalieri che non eran meno di dodici centinaia, e presso a loro i lanciatori. E poiché gli Ateniesi erano viciui ad attaccare i primi la battaglia, ISicia percorrendo le file ove stavano le genti di ciascun popolo, gl’incoraggiava tutti insieme con queste parole :

Commentary

Commentary on Thucydides: Book 6 (Thucydides, Book VI. Marchant, Edgar C., editor. London: Macmillan and Company, 1909.) focus

ὡς ἐς μάχην —the site of the following battle was somewhere S. of the Anapus and E. of the Helorine road.

τὸ μὲν ἥμισν —half the army is in front, eight deep, half behind, covering the camp, in a hollow square, the baggage being inside the square. The A. face E., the Syr. W.

πονῇ —the word is used also of disabled ships.

ἐφορῶντας —‘watching.’

τῶν ἐπιτάκτων —cf. § 2.

εὐναί =‘sleeping-places.’

ἐποιήσαντο —the usual phrase is ἐντὸς ποιεῖσθαι, but ἐντὸς ποιεῖν ( τάξιν) is also found, used of the general.

ἐφ) ἑκκαίδεκα —sixteen deep.

μάλιστα —prob. a numeral has fallen out after this word.

ἐπὶ τῷ δεξιῷ —because here the ground was smooth, being on the platean. Nicias had no force to oppose to the eavalry.

προτέροις ἐπιχειρἡσειν = ἄρξειν τῆς μάχης.

ἐπιπαριών —‘passing along the lines.’ ἕκαστα is direct obj. to this, while κατὰ ἔθνη and ξύμπασι are objects to παρεκελεύετο.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.67

Theodor Braun (Translator)

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